Improvement in fastening for bale-hoops



UNiTED STATES PATENT flf Farce.

JOHN F. MILLIGAN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND RIOHD. BRANCH, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FASTENlNG FOR BALE=HOOPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,230, dated March 13, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J oI-IN F. MILLIGAN, of St. Louis, in the county ot' St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and lmproved Fastening or Tie for Bale-Hoops; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal central section of the fastening. Fig. 2 is a view ot' the inner side ofthe hoop. Fig. 3 is a section taken in the pla-ne of the line a: 0c, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view showing the position ot' the two ends of the hoop when beinglocked or unlocked. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ot' the button.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts. n

This invention consists in setting the button, the same being secured to the under side ot' one end ofthe hoop, at an angle relatively to the length of the hoop, which button is used in connection with a slot made through the other end in a direction parallel to the length of the hoop, whereby it becomes necessary to twist or move one end ot' the hoop out ot' its natura-l position in order to lock and unlock the same.

To enable others to understand my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A designates one end ofthe hoop and B the other. From the under side of the end A there extends a button having a somewhat oval-shaped head, A, and a neck, b. This is set, not in a line parallel with the length of the hoop, but vat an angle relatively thereto, so that when it is inserted through the slot c made iu the other end, B, of the hoop and in a direction parallel with the length of the hoop the saine cannot be drawn out of the slot c unless one end ot' the hoop is thrown or twisted out of its natural position to et'i'ect this. The position ot' this button a b relatively to the ends of' the hoop, and to the slot c when the hoop is locked, will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 2, and it will be seen that however great may be the longitudinal play ot' the two ends ot the hoop they cannot become unlocked unless one end is moved out of its proper position to permit the withdrawal otl the button c I), as will be understood by reference to Fig. 4.

The upper side of the head ofthe button has a ange, d, the oblique edge ot' which coincides with the edge of the slot when the two ends ot' the hoop assume their parallel and final condition,while the head of the but-ton is then oblique, as has been said, to the plane ofthe hoop, its ends catching under the inner side ot' the hoop through which it is passed. The ends ot' the hoop are twisted relatively to euch other, as shown in Fig 4, on the introduction ot' the button, and when they assume their position ot' parallelism one edge ot' the slot is brought up against the said oblique edge ot' the ange d, which limits its motion in that direction.

This forms a cheap lock and one easily operated and secure in every respect.

That l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The button a, with its head set obliquely to the plane ofthe hoop and with au oblique flange, d, operating in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

JOHN F. MILLIGAN. Vitnesses:

R. L. FosBURGH, B. W. SCHULTE. 

